Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 7997;andrew.cmu.edu;Ted Anderson Received: from hogtown.andrew.cmu.edu via trymail for +dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr11/tm2b/space/space.dl@andrew.cmu.edu (->+dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr11/tm2b/space/space.dl) (->ota+space.digests) ID ; Sat, 2 Mar 91 01:38:48 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <0bnoVj200WBwE2gk4I@andrew.cmu.edu> Precedence: junk Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Sat, 2 Mar 91 01:38:39 -0500 (EST) Subject: SPACE Digest V13 #220 SPACE Digest Volume 13 : Issue 220 Today's Topics: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on sci.space/sci.astro Administrivia: Submissions to the SPACE Digest/sci.space should be mailed to space+@andrew.cmu.edu. Other mail, esp. [un]subscription requests, should be sent to space-request+@andrew.cmu.edu, or, if urgent, to tm2b+@andrew.cmu.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 Mar 91 18:49:19 GMT From: borg!vangogh!leech@mcnc.org Subject: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on sci.space/sci.astro sci.space/sci.astro FAQ - draft copy 2/10/91 This message is periodically posted to sci.space and sci.astro in an attempt to provide good answers to frequently asked questions. If you have corrections or answers to other frequently asked questions that you would like included in this posting, send email to leech@cs.unc.edu (Jon Leech). If you don't want to see the FAQ, add the subject line of this posting to your KILL file. Many people have contributed material to this list in the form of old postings to sci.space and sci.astro which I've edited. I apologize if any of this material is misattributed or misquoted. Please let me know if corrections need to be made. Unless otherwise specified, telephone numbers, addresses, and so on are for the United States of America. Non-US readers should remember to add the country code for telephone calls, etc. Contents: 1) Online archives of space-related information 1a) NASA Ames archives 1b) NASA SpaceLink 1c) NSSDC online catalog 1d) Astronomical databases (various sources) 1e) Orbital element sets 2) Periodically updated information posted to the net 3) How to obtain data from space missions 4) Why isn't data from space missions immediately available? 5) How do I compute spacecraft orbits and trajectories? 6) How do I compute planetary positions? 7) What are sources for space and astronomy references? 8) How big a crater will an asteroid hitting the Earth make? 9) How do I receive the NASA TV channel, NASA SELECT? 10) How can I get LANDSAT and other space photos? 11) How can I get planetary maps? 12) How can I get cometary orbit data? 13) How can I get the SAO stellar database? 14) How do I find out about careers in the space industry? 15) Tell me about map projections and spherical trignometry 16) What space-related mailing lists are available and how do I get on them? 17) What is the Dial-A-Shuttle service and how do I use it? 18) What upcoming space science/planetary missions are scheduled? 19) Tell me about space-related organizations (L-5, NSS, SSI, etc.) and magazines covering space activities. 20) How do I perform N-body simulations efficiently? 21) How can I find out more about the LLNL "Great Exploration" (manned Mars mission and large inflatable space station) proposal? 22) Will there be launchings/landings during ? How do I get in to watch them? 23) What are the risks of RTG power sources for space probes? 24) How do I interpret the FITS image format? 25) Where can I get/find out how to build spacecraft models? 26) How can I find out more about esoteric propulsion schemes (solar sails, laser launchers, fusion, antimatter, etc.)? Appendix A) Constants and Equations Appendix B) How to become an astronaut Appendix C) Questions yet to be answered 1) Online archives of space-related information 1a) NASA Ames archives The most extensive archives are maintained at NASA Ames and are available via anonymous FTP or email. These archives include images and a wide variety of documents including NASA press releases, shuttle launch advisories, and mission status reports. FTP users should connect to ames.arc.nasa.gov (128.102.18.3) and look in pub/SPACE. pub/SPACE/Index contains a listing of files available in the archive (the index is about 200K by itself). To access the archives by email, send a letter to archive-server@ames.arc.nasa.gov (or ames!archive-server). In the subject of your letter (or in the body), use commands like: send SPACE Index send SPACE SHUTTLE/ss01.23.91. The capitalization of the subdirectory names is important. All are in caps. The following is a list of the subdirectories that are currently available: APOLLO GIOTTO MANIFEST PRESS.KIT ULYSSES ASTRO HEADLINE.NEWS MARS.ROVER PRESS.RELEASE VICAR BBXRT HST MCSR PROGRAMS VOYAGER COBE HUT MISC RADIO WEATHER CONTRACT IMDISP NTE SHUTTLE WUPPE CRAF OSR SPACE.CLASSROOM FRR PAYLOAD.STATUS SPACELINK GALILEO LAUNCH.ADVISORY PEGASUS GIF MAGELLAN PIONEER UIT The GIF directory contains images in GIF format. A few have been uuencoded so that they be mailed, but unfortunately the majority will not survive mailing. This will be rectified in the future. The VICAR directory contains Magellan images in VICAR format (these are also available in the GIF directory). A PC program capable of displaying these files is found in the IMDISP directory, although it is still a binary file (ZIP format) and so it is not suitable for mailing at this time. The NASA media guide describes the various NASA centers and how to contact their public affairs officers; this may be useful when pursuing specific information. It's in MISC/media.guide. Any problems with the archive server should be reported to Peter Yee (yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov). 1b) NASA SpaceLink SpaceLink is an online service located at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The system is specifically designed for teachers. The data base is arranged to provide easy access to current and historical information on NASA aeronautics and space research. Also included are suggested classroom activities that incorporate information on NASA projects to teach a number of scientific principles. Unlike bulletin board systems, NASA Spacelink does not provide for interaction between callers. However it does allow teachers and other callers to leave questions and comments for NASA which may be answered by regular mail. You can dial in at 205-895-0028 (300/1200/2400 baud, 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit). The telephone number for NASA Spacelink is 205-895-0028. Most of this information is also available from the Ames server in directory SPACELINK. 1c) NSSDC online catalog The National Space Science Data Center is the official clearinghouse for NASA data. The data catalog (*not* the data itself) is available online. Internet users can telnet to nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov (128.183.10.4) and log in as 'NODIS' (no password). You can also dial in via 301-286-9000 (300, 1200, or 2400 baud, 8 bits, no parity, one stop). At the "Enter Number:" prompt, enter MD and carriage return. When the system responds "Call Complete," enter a few more carriage returns to get the "Username:" and log in as 'NODIS' (no password). The system is menu-driven; topics available as of 2/7/91 are: 1 - Master Directory - NASA & Global Change 2 - Personnel Information Management System 3 - Nimbus-7 GRID TOMS Data 4 - Interplanetary Medium Data (OMN 5 - Request data and/or information from NSSDC 6 - Geophysical Models 7 - CANOPUS Newsletter 8 - International Ultraviolet Explorer Data Request 9 - CZCS Browse and Order Utility 10 - Astronomical Data Center (ADC) Data can be ordered from the NSSDC on CD-ROM and other formats. Among the many types of data available are Voyager and other planetary images, Earth observation data, and star catalogs. Viewers for Macintosh and IBM systems are also available. As an example of the cost, an 8 CD set of Voyager images is $75. Nssdca is also an anonymous FTP site, but no comprehensive list of what's there is available at present. 1d) Astronomical databases (various sources) mandarin.mit.edu (18.82.0.21) has the following data available via anonymous FTP in /astro: StarChart v3.2, orbital elements for bright comets and asteroids, the Yale Bright Star catalog, Saguaro Astronomy Club Deepsky and Double Star databases, some PC astronomy programs, and possibly more. Get astro/README. Contact ccount@athena.mit.edu with questions. The ames archives contain a database of 8,436 galaxies including name, RA, declination, magnitude, and radial velocity in MISC/galaxy.dat. This was supplied by Wayne Hayes (wayne@csri.utoronto.ca). iris1.ucis.dal.ca (129.173.18.107) has a number of GIFs from Voyager, Hubble, and other sources available by anonymous FTP in pub/gif (most of this data is also in SPACE/GIF on the Ames server). Please restrict access to 5pm - 8am Atlantic time. 1e) Orbital element sets The most recent orbital elements from the NASA Prediction Bulletins are carried on the Celestial BBS, (513) 427-0674. Documentation and tracking software are also available on this system. The Celestial BBS may be accessed 24 hours/day at 300, 1200, or 2400 baud using 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity. This information is also available via anonymous FTP from nachos.ssesco.com (192.55.187.18) in sat_elements/nasa/ (address problems with the server to elmquist@ssesco.com), and is posted weekly to the Usenet group sci.space. Orbital elements for the Hubble Space Telescope are posted periodically to sci.astro by Mike Rose (mrose@stsci.edu), and a Macintosh program for interpreting this information is available by FTP from stsci.edu (130.167.1.2) in Software/hstmap-3.4.0.sit.hqx. This program has also been posted to comp.binaries.mac. 2) Periodically updated information posted to the net The following information is posted on the Usenet group sci.space (gatewayed to SPACE Digest and the BITNET SPACE-L) unless otherwise specified. Please remember that the individuals posting this information are performing a service for all net readers, and don't take up their time with frivolous requests. Ron Baalke (baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov) posts frequent updates from JPL, Ames, and other centers on the Ulysses, Gailileo, Pioneer, Magellan, Landsat, and other missions to sci.space and sci.astro. Peter Yee (yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov) posts a variety of NASA material to sci.space and sci.space.shuttle, including NASA Headline News (with the schedule for NASA SELECT), shuttle payload briefings and flight manifests, and KSC shuttle status reports. The updates posted by Ron and Peter are also available on a mailing list. Contact either one to be added to this list. Henry Spencer (henry@zoo.toronto.edu) posts summaries of space-related stories in the weekly _Aviation Week and Space Technology_. Glenn Chapman (glennc@cs.sfu.cad) posts summaries of Soviet space activities. Allen Sherzer (aws@iti.org) posts a newsletter, "One Small Step for a Space Activist," describing current legislative activity affecting NASA and commercial space activities. TS Kelso (tkelso@blackbird.afit.af.mil) posts orbital elements from NASA Prediction Bulletins. Mike Rose (mrose@stsci.edu) posts orbital elements for the Hubble Space Telescope to sci.astro. Cary Oler (std_oler@hg.uleth.ca) posts Solar Terrestrial reports (describing solar activity and its effect on the Earth) to rec.radio.shortwave and sci.space. The report is issued in-part from data released by the Space Enviroment Services Center, Boulder Colorado. Recent copies of this material are available by anonymous FTP from nic.funet.fi (128.214.6.100) in /pub/misc/rec.radio.shortwave/solarreports (please note this site is in Europe, and the connection to the US is only 56KB). Richard Langley (lang@unb.ca) posts SPACEWARN Bulletins. These describe recent launch/orbital decay information and satellites which are useful for scientific activities. Recent bulletins are available by anonymous FTP from nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov in ANON_DIR:[000000.ACTIVE.SPX]. Swaraj Jeyasingh (sjeyasin@axion.bt.co.uk) has recently begun posting summaries of space-related news from Flight International. This focused more on non-US space activities than Aviation Week. Jonathan McDowell (mcdowell@xanth.msfc.nasa.gov) posts "Jonathan's Space Report" (covering launches, landings, reentries, status reports, satellite activities, etc.) to sci.space. (Despite the address, this is not in any way an official NASA document.) Harm Munk (munk@cft.philips.nl) has recently begun posting summaries of articles in the quarterly _ESA Bulletin_ and will post summaries of articles in the _ESA Journal_ as well. John Magliacane (kd2bd@ka2qhd.UUCP) posts "SpaceNews" (covering AMSATs, NOAA and other weather satellites, and other ham information) to rec.ham-radio and sci.space. Don Barry (don@chara.gsu.edu) posts the Electronic Journal of the Astronomical Society of the Atlantic monthly to sci.astro. 3) How to obtain data from space missions Some of this data, primarily images, is available by modem, email, or anonymous FTP. The best source is the National Space Science Data Center. See answers (1a) and (1c) for more details. Most of the interest is in images from recent missions (Magellan, Hubble, Gailileo). No images are being posted to the net at present, and this is unlikely to happen in the future because of the large amount of data involved. 4) Why isn't data from space missions immediately available? Investigators associated with NASA missions are allowed exclusive access for one year after the data is obtained in order to give them an opportunity to analyze the data and publish results without being "scooped" by people uninvolved in the mission. However, NASA frequently release examples (in non-digital form, e.g. photos) to the public early in a mission. This topic has been repeatedly beaten to death on sci.astro and sci.space, and you should probably take it up with your Congressional representatives if it still seems unfair. Talking about the policy on the net has no chance of changing it. 5) How do I compute spacecraft orbits and trajectories? References that have been recommended on the net are: "Fundamentals of Astrodynamics" Roger Bate, Donald Mueller, Jerry White 1971, Dover Press, 455pp $8.95 (US) (paperback). ISBN 0-486-60061-0 NASA Spaceflight handbooks (dating from the 1960s) SP-33 Orbital Flight Handbook (3 parts) SP-34 Lunar Flight Handbook (3 parts) SP-35 Planetary Flight Handbook (9 parts) These might be found in university aeronautics libraries or ordered through the US Govt. Printing Office (GPO), although more information would probably be needed to order them. M. A. Minovitch, _The Determination and Characteristics of Ballistic Interplanetary Trajectories Under the Influence of Multiple Planetary Attractions_, Technical Report 32-464, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., Oct, 1963. The title says all. Starts of with the basics and works its way up. Very good. It has a companion article: M. Minovitch, _Utilizing Large Planetary Perubations for the Design of Deep-Space Solar-Probe and Out of Ecliptic Trajectories_, Technical Report 32-849, JPL, Pasadena, Calif., 1965. You need to read the first one first to realy understand this one. It does include a _short_ summary if you can only find the second. Contact JPL for availability of these reports. "Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics", Peter C. Hughes 1986, John Wiley and Sons. "Celestial Mechanics: a computational guide for the practitioner", Lawrence G. Taff, (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1985). Starts with the basics (2-body problem, coordinates) and works up to orbit determinations, perturbations, and differential corrections. Taff also briefly discusses stellar dynamics including a short discussion of n-body problems. [From: gaetz@uwovax.uwo.ca (Terry Gaetz) lfa@vielle.cray.com (Lou Adornato) hmueller@cssun.tamu.edu (Hal Mueller)] 6) How do I compute planetary positions? More net references: Van Flandern & Pullinen, _Low-Precision Formulae for Planetary Positions_, Astrophysical J. Supp Series, 41:391-411, 1979. Look in an astronomy or physics library for this; also said to be available from Willmann-Bell. Gives series to compute positions accurate to 1 arc minute for a period + or - 300 years from now. Pluto is included but stated to have an accuracy of only about 15 arc minutes. _Interactive Computer Ephemeris_ (from the US Naval Observatory) distributed on IBM-PC floppy disks, $35 (Willmann-Bell). Covers dates 1800-2049. "Planetary Programs and Tables from -4000 to +2800", Bretagnon & Simon 1986, Willmann-Bell. Floppy disks available separately. "Fundamentals of Celestial Mechanics" (2nd ed), J.M.A. Danby 1988, Willmann-Bell. A good fundamental text. Includes BASIC programs; a companion set of floppy disks is available separately. "Astronomical Formulae for Calculators" (4th ed.), J. Meeus 1988, Willmann-Bell. "Practical Astronomy with your Calculator" (3rd ed.), P. Duffett-Smith 1988, Cambridge University Press. "Orbits for Amateurs with a Microcomputer", D. Tattersfield 1984, Stanley Thornes, Ltd. Includes example programs in BASIC. "Orbits for Amateurs II", D. Tattersfield 1987, John Wiley & Sons. [From: jscotti@lpl.arizona.edu (Jim Scotti) sterner@warper.jhuapl.edu (Ray Sterner) grandi@noao.edu (Steve Grandi) chapin@cbnewsc.att.com (Tom Chapin) dietz@cs.rochester.edu (Paul F. Dietz)] 7) What are sources for space and astronomy references? Crawford-Peters Aeronautica P.O. Box 152528 San Diego, CA 92115 (619) 287-3933 An excellent source of all kinds of space publications. They publish a number of catalogs, including: Aviation and Space, 1945-1962 Aviation and Space, 1962-1990 Space and Related Titles Willmann-Bell P.O. Box 35025 Richmond, Virginia 23235 USA (804)-320-7016 9-5 EST M-F Cambridge University Press 32 East 57th Street New York, NY 10022 John Wiley & Sons 605 Third Avenue New York, NY 10158-0012 Superintendent of Documents US Government Printing Office Washington, DC 20402 Univelt, Inc. P. O. Box 28130 San Diego, Ca. 92128 Publishers for the American Astronomical Society. 8) How big a crater will an asteroid hitting the Earth make? Astrogeologist Gene Shoemaker proposes the following formula, based on studies of cratering caused by nuclear tests. (1/3.4) D = S S C K W = crater diameter, km g p p n (1/6) S = (G / G) = gravity correction factor for bodies other g e than Earth. (1/3.4) S = (p / p) = correction factor for target density p, p a p = 1.8 gm/cm^3 for alluvium. a C = crater collapse factor, 1 for craters < 3km in diameter, 1.3 for larger craters. (1/3.4) K = .074 km / (kT TNT equivalent) n empirically determined from nuclear tests 2 19 W = M V / (2 * 4.185 * 10 ) p = projectile energy in KT (M and V in CGS units) p An RMS velocity of V = 20 km/sec may be used for Earth-crossing asteroids. Under these assumptions, the body which created the Barringer Meteor Crater in Arizona (1.13 km diameter) would have been about 40 meters in diameter. More generally, one can use: Asteroid Number of objects Impact probability Impact energy diameter (km) (impacts/year) (* 5*10^20 ergs) 10 10 10^-8 10^9 1 1 000 10^-6 10^6 0.1 100 000 10^-4 10^3 (after Gehrels, 1985) assuming simple scaling laws. Note that 5*10^20 ergs = 13 000 tons TNT equivalent, or the energy released by the Hiroshima A-bomb. References: Gehrels, T. 1985 Asteroids and comets. _Physics Today_ 38, 32-41. [an excellent general overview of the subject for the layman] Shoemaker, E.M. 1983 Asteroid and comet bombardment of the earth. _Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci._ 11, 461-494. [very long and fairly technical but a comprehensive examination of the subject] Shoemaker, Williams, Helin, and Wolfe. Earth-crossing asteroids: orbital classes, collision rates with earth, and origin. In _Asteroids_, T. Gehrels (ed.), U. of Arizona Press (1979). Cunningham, C.J. 1988 _Introduction to Asteroids: The Next Frontier_ (Richmond: Willman-Bell, Inc.) [covers all aspects of asteroid studies and is an excellent introduction to the subject for people of all experience levels. It also has a very extensive reference list covering essentially all of the reference material in the field.] [From: akerman@bill.phy.queensu.CA (Richard Akerman) leech@cs.unc.edu (Jon Leech) (Akerman has offered to provide more information, contact him directly at above address or akerman@qucdnast (BITNET))] 9) How do I receive the NASA TV channel, NASA SELECT? NASA SELECT is broadcast by satellite. If you have access to a satellite dish, you can find SELECT on Satcom F2R, Transponder 13, C-Band, 72 degrees West Longitude, Audio 6.8, Frequency 3960 MHz. F2R is stationed over the Atlantic, and is increasingly difficult to receive from California and points west. During events of special interest (e.g. shuttle missions), SELECT is sometimes broadcast on a second satellite for these viewers. If you can't get a satellite feed, some cable operators carry SELECT. It's worth asking if yours doesn't. The SELECT schedule is found in the NASA Headline News which is frequently posted to sci.space. Generally it carries press conferences, briefings by NASA officials, and live coverage of shuttle missions and planetary encounters. 10) How can I get LANDSAT and other space photos? You can get black-and-white 1:1M prints, negatives, or positives for $10, $18, $12 respectively for any Landsat data more than 2 years old from EDC, (Eros (Earth Resources Orbiting Satellite) Data Center). Call them at (605) 594-6511. You get 80 meter resolution from the MSS scanner, 135x180 kilometers on a picture 135x180 mm in size. I think you have to select one band from (green, red, near IR, second near IR), but I'm not sure. Digitial data is also available at higher prices. Transparencies of all NASA photos available to the public can be borrowed from the NASA photo archive; you can have copies or prints made. NASA Audio-Visual Facility 918 North Rengstorff Ave Mountain View, CA 94043 (415) 604-6270 [From: smith@sndpit.enet.dec.com (Willie Smith) shafer@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov (Mary Shafer)] 11) How can I get planetary maps? The USGS address for maps of the planets is: U.S. Geological Survey, Distribution Branch, Box 25286, Federal Center, Bldg. 41 Denver, CO 80225 Maps cost $2.40 to $3.10 per sheet (a few come in sets of 2 or 3 sheets). The best global maps of Mars based on Viking images are 1:15,000,000 scale in 3 sheets. These maps are: I-1535 (2 sheets only) - relief, albedo, names I-1535 I-1618 (3 sheets) - relief, names I-2030 (3 sheets) - relief, topographic contours I-1802-A,B,C (3 sheets) - geology There are many other maps as well: 30 sheets at 1:5,000,000 scale in relief, albedo, geology, photomosaic forms (not all 30 sheets available in all formats); 140 sheets at 1:2,000,000 scale as photomosaics of the whole planet, about 100 sheets of interesting sites at 1:500,000 scale in photomosaic format, and lots of special sheets. Then there are maps of Mercury, Venus, the Moon, the four Galilean Satellites, six moons of Saturn and five of Uranus. I will personally respond to requests for information on any topic relating to lunar and planetary maps. [From 17001_1511@uwovax.uwo.ca (Phil Stooke)] 12) How can I get cometary orbit data? The Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams and the Minor Planet Center announce the sixth edition of the Catalogue of Cometary Orbits in IAU Circular 4935. The catalogue contains 1292 entries which represent all known comets through November 1989 and is 96 pages long. Non-subscribers to the Circulars may purchase the catalogue for $15.00 while the cost to subscribers is $7.50. The basic catalogue in ASCII along with a program to extract specific orbits and calculate ephemerides is available on MS-DOS 5.25-inch 2S2D diskette at a cost of $75.00 (the program requires an 8087 math coprocessor). The catalogue alone is also available by e-mail for $37.50 or on magnetic tape for $300.00. Except for the printed version of the catalogue, the various magnetic media or e-mail forms of the catalogue do not specifically meantion non-subscribers. It is possible that these forms of the catalogue may not be available to non-subscribers or that their prices may be more expensive than those given. Mail requests for specific information and orders to: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams . Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory . Cambridge, MA 02138, USA . [From Panama@cup.portal.com (Kenneth W Durham)] 13) How can I get the SAO stellar database? A copy can be ordered on magtape from the NSSDC. I am not aware of an online source at this time, probably due to the 40M size of the dataset. 14) How do I find out about careers in the space industry? In 1990 the Princeton Planetary Society published the first edition of "Space Jobs: The Guide to Careers in Space-Related Fields." The publication was enormously successful: we distributed 2000 copies to space enthusiasts across the country and even sent a few to people in Great Britain, Australia, and Ecuador. Due to the tremendous response to the first edition, PPS has published an expanded, up-to-date second edition of the guide. The 40-page publication boasts 69 listings for summer and full-time job opportunities as well as graduate school programs. The second edition of "Space Jobs" features strategies for entering the space field and describes positions at consulting and engineering firms, NASA, and non-profit organizations. The expanded special section on graduate schools highlights a myriad of programs ranging from space manufacturing to space policy. Additional sections include tips on becoming an astronaut and listings of NASA Space Grant Fellowships and Consortia, as well as NASA Centers for the Commercial Development of Space. To order send check or money order made payable to Princeton Planetary Society for $4 per copy, plus $1 per copy for shipping and handling (non-US customers send an International Money Order payable in US dollars) to: Princeton Planetary Society 315 West College Princeton University Princeton, NJ 08544 [From mcconley@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Marc Wayne Mcconley)] 15) Tell me about map projections and spherical trignometry Two easy-to-find sources of map projections are the "Encyclopaedia Brittanica", (particularly the older volumes) and a tutorial appearing in _Graphics Gems_ (Academic Press, 1990). The latter was written with simplicity of exposition and suitability of digital computation in mind (spherical trig formulae also appear, as do digitally-plotted examples). ---- More than you ever cared to know about map projections is in John Snyder's USGS publication "Map Projections--A Working Manual", USGS Professional Paper 1395. This contains detailed descriptions of 32 projections, with history, features, projection formulas (for both spherical earth and ellipsoidal earth), and numerical test cases. It's a neat book, all 382 pages worth. This one's $20. You might also want the companion volume, by Snyder and Philip Voxland, "An Album of Map Projections", USGS Professional Paper 1453. This contains less detail on about 130 projections and variants. Formulas are in the back, example plots in the front. $14, 250 pages. You can order these 2 ways. The cheap, slow way is direct from USGS: Earth Science Information Center, US Geological Survey, 507 National Center, Reston, VA 22092. 1-800-USA-MAPS. They can quote you a price and tell you where to send your money. Expect a 6-8 week turnaround time. A much faster way (about 1 week) is through Timely Discount Topos, (303) 469-5022, 9769 W. 119th Drive, Suite 9, Broomfield, CO 80021. Call them and tell them what you want. They'll quote a price, you send a check, and then they go to USGS Customer Service Counter and pick it up for you. Add about a $3-4 service charge, plus shipping. ---- Some references for spherical trignometry are: _Spherical Astronomy_, W.M. Smart, Cambridge U. Press, 1931. _A Compendium of Spherical Astronomy_, S. Newcomb, Dover, 1960. _Spherical Astronomy_, R.M. Green, Cambridge U. Press., 1985 (update of Smart). _Spherical Astronomy_, E Woolard and G.Clemence, Academic Press, 1966. [From: awpaeth@watcgl.waterloo.edu (Alan Wm Paeth) hmueller@cssun.tamu.edu (Hal Mueller) bankst@rata.vuw.ac.nz (Timothy Banks)] 16) What space-related mailing lists are available and how do I get on them? SPACE Digest has a bidirectional gateway to sci.space, so don't request it unless you cannot get netnews. Email space-request+@andrew.cmu.edu to join. SPACE Magazine is a distillation of interesting material from SPACE Digest which may be of interest to readers tiring of the signal-to-noise level in sci.space. Email space-mag-request+@andrew.cmu.edu to join. [From tm2b+@andrew.cmu.edu (Todd L. Masco)] The space-investors mailing list is for information relevant to investing in space-related companies. Email Vincent Cate (vac@cs.cmu.edu) to join. The space-tech mailing list is for more technical discussion of space topics; discussion has included esoteric propulsion technologies, asteroid capture, starflight, orbital debris removal, etc. Email to space-tech-request@cs.cmu.edu to join. As a general note, please mail to the *request* address to get off a mailing list. SPACE Digest, for example, relays many inappropriate 'please remove me from this list' messages which are sent to the list address rather than the request address. 17) What is the Dial-A-Shuttle service and how do I use it? Dial-a-Shuttle is a pay-per-call (900) service run by the National Space Society during shuttle missions. Call 24 bours a day from two hours before launch to the post-landing press conference. Include live communications between the astronauts and Mission Control and special updates and interviews. $2/first minute + $0.45/additional minutes. If you can get NASA SELECT TV, it's free and also offers near-continuous service during shuttle missions. 18) What upcoming space science/planetary missions are scheduled? Galileo - Jupiter orbiter and atmosphere probe. In transit to Jupiter. Galileo Schedule ---------------- 10/18/89 - Launch from Space Shuttle 02/09/90 - Venus Flyby 10/**/90 - Venus Data Playback 12/08/90 - 1st Earth Flyby 05/01/91 - High Gain Antenna Unfurled 07/91 - 06/92 - 1st Asteroid Belt Passage 10/29/91 - Asteroid Gaspra Flyby 12/08/92 - 2nd Earth Flyby 05/93 - 11/93 - 2nd Asteroid Belt Passage 08/28/93 - Asteroid Ida Flyby 07/02/95 - Probe Separation 07/09/95 - Orbiter Deflection Maneuver 12/95 - 10/97 - Orbital Tour of Jovian Moons 12/07/95 - Jupiter/Io Encounter 07/18/96 - Ganymede 09/28/96 - Ganymede 12/12/96 - Callisto 01/23/97 - Europa 02/28/97 - Ganymede 04/22/97 - Europa 05/31/97 - Europa 10/05/97 - Jupiter Magnetotail Exploration ---- Mars Observer - Mars orbiter including 1.5 m/pixel resolution camera. Launch scheduled 9/16/1992 aboard Titan III; arrival in 8/93, operations start 11/93 for one martian year (687 days). ---- CRAF (Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby) will meet with the Comet Kopff near the orbit of Jupiter and travel along side it for at least three years. The planned cometary penetrator portion of the probe was recently dropped for budgetary reasons. Key Scheduled Dates for the CRAF Mission -------------------------------------------- 08/22/95 - Titan IV/Centaur Launch 01/22/98 - 449 Hamburga Asteroid Flyby 08/14/00 - Comet Kopff Arrival 08/20/01 - CRAF Penetrator to Kopff 03/31/03 - End of Primary Mission ---- Cassini - Saturn orbiter and Titan atmosphere probe. Key Scheduled Dates for the Cassini Mission (EJGA Trajectory) ------------------------------------------------------------- 08/22/96 - Titan IV/Centaur Launch 03/29/97 - 66 Maja Asteroid Flyby 06/08/98 - Earth Gravity Assist 02/06/00 - Jupiter Gravity Assist 12/06/02 - Saturn Arrival 03/27/03 - Titan Probe Release 03/29/03 - Orbiter Deflection Maneuver 04/18/03 - Titan Probe Entry 06/30/03 - Iapetus Flyby 05/20/04 - Dione Flyby 09/12/04 - Enceladus Flyby 08/14/05 - Iapetus Flyby 12/31/06 - End of Primary Mission ---- Other space science missions (note: this schedule was posted by Ron Baalke in 11/89 and needs to be updated. The shuttle missions have been rescheduled): 1991 Missions o Tethered Satellite System [Mar 1992 STS-46 TSS-1] January, shuttle, attached by tether to the shuttle bay, system will study electrical fields and gas clouds in space while demonstrating the capabilities of deploying and retrieving a tethered satellite. o International Microgravity Lab [Dec 1991 STS-42 IML-1] February, shuttle lab will set up systems for life-science studies. o Atmospheric Lab for Applications and Science (ATLAS) [Apr 1992 STS-45] May, shuttle, this manned lab will study variations in the solar spectrum and Earth's atmosphere. o Spacelab [May 1991 STS-40 SLS-1; and others] July aboard shuttle, carry out low-gravity experiments. o Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer [rocket] August, rocket, this satellite will study the evolution and population of stars and galaxies. o Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) [Nov 1991 STS-48 UARS] October, shuttle launch, will study upper atmosphere chemistry. o Small Explorer-1 [rocket] November, first in a series of rocket launches to study space physics and atmospheric science. 1992 Missions o Space Radar Lab [4th quarter 1993] May shuttle, gather radar images of Earth's surface. o TOPEX/Poseidon [rocket] June rocket, TOPEX will study the relationship of ocean systems to climate. o Mars Observer [rocket] September by rocket, to study Mars' climate and surface. o Shuttle High-Energy Astrophysics Lab [? not on manifest] September, on-board shuttle study of space X-ray sources. 1993 Missions o Gravity Probe [? not on manifest] June, shuttle launch, prototype mission to test Einstein's theory that space is curved. o Polar Orbiting Satellite [? not on manifest] June, measure solar wind and ions and gases surrounding the Earth. o Waves in Space Plasma [1st quarter 1995] November, shuttle attached antennae that will send out radio waves to measure the ionosphere. Proposed Missions: o Advanced X-ray Astronomy Facility (AXAF) Possible launch from shuttle in 1995, AXAF is a space observatory with a high resolution telescope. It would orbit for 15 years and study the mysteries and fate of the universe. o Earth Observing System (EOS) Possible launch in 1997, 1 of 6 US orbiting space platforms to provide long-term data (15 years) of Earth systems science including planetary evolution. o Mercury Observer Possible 1997 launch. o Lunar Observer Possible 1997 launch, would be sent into a long-term lunar orbit. The Observer, from 60 miles above the moon's poles, would survey characteristics to provide a global context for the results from the Apollo program. o Space Infrared Telescope Facility Possible launch by shuttle in 1999, this is the 4th element of the Great Observatories program. A free-flying observatory with a lifetime of 5 to 10 years, it would observe new comets and other primitive bodies in the outer solar system, study cosmic birth formation of galaxies, stars and planets and distant infrared-emitting galaxies o Mars Rover Sample Return (MRSR) Robotics rover would return samples of Mars' atmosphere and surface to Earch for analysis. Possible launch dates: 1996 for imaging orbiter, 2001 for rover. o Fire and Ice Possible launch in 2001, will use a gravity assist flyby of Earth in 2003, and use a final gravity assist from Jupiter in 2005, where the probe will split into its Fire and Ice components: The Fire probe will journey into the Sun, taking measurements of our star's upper atmosphere until it is vaporized by the intense heat. The Ice probe will head out towards Pluto, reaching the tiny world for study by 2016. [From: NASA fact sheets posted by Ron Baalke] 19) Tell me about space-related organizations (L-5, NSS, SSI, etc.) and magazines covering space activities. NSS - the National Space Society, formed by the merger of the L-5 Society and the National Space Institute founded by Von Braun. NSS is a pro-space group distinguished by its network of local chapters. Supports a general agenda of space development and man-in-space, including the NASA space station. Publishes _Ad Astra_, a monthly glossy magazine, and runs Shuttle launch tours, Dial-A-Shuttle and Space Hotline telephone services. A major sponsor of the annual space development conference. Associated with Spacecause and Spacepac, political lobbying organizations. Membership $18 (youth/senior) $30 (regular). National Space Society Membership Department P.O. Box 96651 Washington, DC 20077-7475 SSI - the Space Studies Institute, founded by Dr. Gerard O'Neill. Publishes _SSI Update_, a bimonthly newsletter describing work-in-progress. Conducts a research program including mass-drivers, lunar mining processes and simulants, composites from lunar materials, solar power satellites. Runs the biennial Princeton Conference on Space Manufacturing. Developing a Lunar Polar Probe for 1992 launch to geochemically map the entire moon and search for volatiles which may be frozen at the poles. Membership $25/year. Senior Associates ($100/year and up) fund most SSI research. Space Studies Institute 258 Rosedale Road PO Box 82 Princeton, NJ 08540 Planetary Society - founded by Carl Sagan. The largest space advocacy group. Publishes _Planetary Report_, a monthly glossy, and has supported SETI hardware development financially. Agenda is primarily support of space science, recently amended to include an international manned mission to Mars. The Planetary Society 65 North Catalina Avenue Pasadena, California 91106 Membership $35/year. BIS - British Interplanetary Society Probably the oldest pro-space group, BIS publishes two excellent journals: _Spaceflight_, covering current space activities, and the _Journal of the BIS_, containing technical papers on space activities from near-term space probes to interstellar missions. BIS has published a design study for an interstellar probe called _Daedalus_. British Interplanetary Society 27/29 South Lambeth Road London SW8 1SZ ENGLAND No dues information available at present. Air & Space / Smithsonian (bimonthly magazine) Box 53261 Boulder, CO 80332-3261 $18/year US, $24/year international Final Frontier (mass-market bimonthly magazine) History, book reviews, general-interest articles (e.g. "The 7 Wonders of the Solar System", "Everything you always wanted to know about military space programs", etc.) Final Frontier Publishing Co. PO Box 534 Mt. Morris, IL 61054-7852 $14.95/year US, $19.95 Canada, $23.95 elsewhere Space News (weekly magazine) - covers US civil and military space programs. Said to have good political and business but spotty technical coverage. Space News Springfield VA 22159-0500 703-642-7330 $75/year, may have discounts for NSS/SSI members Space Flight News (monthly magazine) - covers current space activities (all nations) in depth and has good historical series on topics like early space capsules, cosmonauts, etc. Available by newsstand in the US (with several months shipping delay), only by mail elsewhere. Subscription Dept. Space Flight News Ltd. PO Box 100 Stamford, Lincs, PE9IXQ ENGLAND #16.20 pounds/year UK and international (surface) airmail: #25/year (Europe) #26 (Middle East) #29 (North America) #31 (Australia, NZ, Japan) Journal of the Astronautical Sciences and Space Times - publications of the American Astronautical Society. No details. AAS Business Office 6352 Rolling Mill Place, Suite #102 Springfield, Va. 22152 703-866-0020 GPS World (semi-monthly) - reports on current and new uses of GPS, news and analysis of the system and policies affecting it, and technical and product issues shaping GPS applications. GPS World 859 Willamette St. P.O. Box 10460 Eugene, OR 97440-2460 503-343-1200 Free to qualified individuals; write for free sample copy. Other groups: (anyone who would care to write up descriptions of the following groups for inclusion in the answer is encouraged to do so.) SEDS - Students for the Exploration and Development of Space US Space Foundation Spacecause Spacepac AIAA AAS 20) How do I perform N-body simulations efficiently? "Computer Simulation Using Particles" R. W. Hockney and J. W. Eastwood (Adam Hilger; Bristol and Philadelphia; 1988) "The rapid evaluation of potential fields in particle systems", L. Greengard MIT Press, 1988. A breakthrough O(N) simulation method. Has been parallelized. L. Greengard and V. Rokhlin, "A fast algorithm for particle simulations," Journal of Computational Physics, 73:325-348, 1987. "An O(N) Algorithm for Three-dimensional N-body Simulations", MSEE thesis, Feng Zhao, MIT AILab Technical Report 995, 1987 "Galactic Dynamics" J. Binney & S. Tremaine (Princeton U. Press; Princeton; 1987) Includes an O(N^2) FORTRAN code written by Aarseth, a pioneer in the field. Hierarchical (N log N) tree methods are described in these papers: A. W. Appel, "An Efficient Program for Many-body Simulation", SIAM Journal of Scientific and Statistical Computing, Vol. 6, p. 85, 1985. Barnes & Hut, "A Hierarchical O(N log N) Force-Calculation Algorithm", Nature, V324 # 6096, 4-10 Dec 1986. L. Hernquist, "Hierarchical N-body Methods", Computer Physics Communications, Vol. 48, p. 107, 1988. mbellon@mcdurb.urbana.gould.com has offered to discuss these topics at greater length. [From: mbellon@mcdurb.Urbana.Gould.COM gaetz@uwovax.uwo.ca (Terry Gaetz)] 21) How can I find out more about the LLNL "Great Exploration" (manned Mars mission and large inflatable space station) proposal? This topic is under active discussion in sci.space at present. Also see: Avation Week Jan 22, 1990 for an article on the overall Great Exploration NASA Assessment of the LLNL Space Exploration Proposal and LLNL Responces by Dr. Lowell Wood LLNL Doc. No. SS 90-9. Their address is: PO Box 808 Livermore, CA 94550 (the NASA authors are unknown). Briefing slides of a presentation to the NRC last December may be available. Write LLNL and ask. Conceptual Design Study for Modular Inflatable Space Structures, a final report for purchase order B098747 by ILC Dover INC. I don't know how to get this except from LLNL or ILC Dover. I don't have an address for ILC. [From aws@iti.org (Allen W. Sherzer)] 22) Will there be launchings/landings during ? How do I get in to watch them? Shuttle operations are discussed in the Usenet group sci.space.shuttle. NASA shuttle status reports are posted in a timely fashion. The Kennedy Space Center Public Affairs Office has a number you can call for a recording which gives launch dates for the year ahead. Call (407)867-4636. Remember that launches may often be postponed, and plan accordingly. [We could use appropriate tips on where and how to see a launch, for KSC, Canaveral Air Station, and Vandenburg Air Force Base. Tourist tips should be archived somewhere, if not circulated as FAQ's. What the heck, throw in Kourou, Baikonur, and any others as well.] There are two ways to see shuttle landings at Edwards AFB, listed in order of restrictiveness of access. 1. The public viewing area on the lakebed. Take Hwy 14 to Avenue F and follow the signs. This area is opened about 2 days before the scheduled touchdown. The viewing area is an unimproved area so don't expect many amenities. I think that there are sanitary facilities and that food and drinks can be purchased. It's suggested that you bring food and water Nothing is required for access to this area. (I've never been to this area, so I can't speak from personal knowledge.) 2. The hillside viewing area. This is on the hillside, just above Ames-Dryden, and requires a special pass. This pass is good for one vehicle, with any number of passengers. You can't enter the Ames-Dryden complex but you can walk down the hill to the cafeteria and the giftshop, etc. More amenities, including radio transmissions from the Shuttle and JSC. Some of us believe that this area has the BEST view of the landing. To obtain a hillside pass, write to: NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility Attn: Ms. Cei Kratz, Public Affairs Office P.O. Box 273 Edwards, CA 92523-5000 Do this early, because there is a limited amount of space. If you get these and then discover that you can't attend, please try to pass them on to someone else who can use them. Incidently, there is _no_ charge. Come see the Shuttle land--it's great. Wear warm clothes! Forget the myth that the desert is always hot, it's cool to cold when the sun's down. If it's much warmer, it's because the wind is blowing. Hillside Guests will be sitting up on metal bleachers. The portions of their anatomy in contact with the bleachers (feet and seat) may get _real_ cold. [From: higgins@fnal.bitnet (William Higgins) shafer@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov (Mary Shafer)] 23) What are the risks of RTG power sources for space probes? There has been extensive discussion on this topic in sci.space, sparked by attempts to block the Galileo and Ulysses launches on grounds of the plutonium thermal sources being dangerous. Numerous studies claim that even in worst-case scenarios (shuttle explosion during launch, or accidental reentry at interplanetary velocities), the risks are extremely small. To make your own informed judgement, some references you may wish to pursue are: A good review of the technical facts and issues is given by Daniel Salisbury in "Radiation Risk and Planetary Exploration-- The RTG Controversy," *Planetary Report*, May-June 1987, pages 3-7. Another good article, which also reviews the events preceding Galileo's launch, "Showdown at Pad 39-B," by Robert G. Nichols, appeared in the November 1989 issue of *Ad Astra*. (Both magazines are published by pro-space organizations, the Planetary Society and the National Space Society respectively.) Gordon L Chipman, Jr., "Advanced Space Nuclear Systems" (AAS 82-261), in *Developing the Space Frontier*, edited by Albert Naumann and Grover Alexander, Univelt, 1983, p. 193-213. "Hazards from Plutonium Toxicity", by Bernard L. Cohen, Health Physics, Vol 32 (may) 1977, page 359-379. NUS Corporation, Safety Status Report for the Ulysses Mission: Risk Analysis (Book 1). Document number is NUS 5235; there is no GPO #; published Jan 31, 1990. NASA Office of Space Science and Applications, *Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Ulysses Mission (Tier 2)*, (no serial number or GPO number, but probably available from NTIS or NASA) June 1990. [From higgins@fnal.bitnet (William Higgins) ken@orion.bitnet (Kenneth Ng) pjs@plato.jpl.nasa.gov (Peter Scott) higgins@fnal.bitnet (William S. Higgins)] 24) How do I interpret the FITS image format? Preferably, use the ppm package (see the comp.graphics FAQ) to read FITS images. If you really need to know this, at present a draft standard document describing FITS is available by anonymous FTP from nssfca.gsfc.nasa.gov (128.183.10.4). Get ANON_DIR:[FITS]README.;1 to begin with. 25) Where can I get/find out how to build spacecraft models? "Space in Miniature #2: Gemini" by Michael J. Mackowski 1621 Waterwood Lane, St. Louis, MO 63146 $7.50 Only 34pp but enough pictures & diagrams to interest more than just the modelling community, I feel. Marco's Miniatures of Dracut, Mass. have produced a 1/144 Skylab in an edition of 500 & a 1/48 Lunar Rover (same scale as Monogram and Revell Lunar Modules) in a similar edition. Prices are $45 for Skylab, $24 for LRV. Check with them for postage etc. I have no connection with them, but have found their service to be good and their stock of rare/old kits *is* impressive. Prices range from reasonable ($35 for Monogram 1/32 scale Apollo CSM with cutaway details) to spectacular ($145 for Airfix Vostok). Four Star Collectibles P.O. Box 658 Dracut Mass 01826, USA. (508) 957 0695. Voyager, HST, Viking, Lunar Rover etc. kits from: Lunar Models 5120 Grisham Rowlett, Texas 75088 (214)-475-4230, 9-5 CST As reviewed by Bob Kaplow: Peter Alway's book "Scale Model Rocketry" is now available. Mine arrived in the mail earlier this week. To get your own copy, send $19.95 + $2.50 s/h ($22.45 total) to: Peter Alway 2830 Pittsfield Ann Arbor, MI 48104 The book includes information on collecting scale data, construction of scale models, and several handy tables. Appendicies include plans for 3 sport scale models, a 1:9.22 D Region Tomahawk (BT50), a 1/40 V-2 (BT60), and a 1/9.16 Aerobee 150A (BT55/60). I've only begun to study the book, but it certainly will be a valuable data source for many modellers. Most vehicles include several paragraphs of text describing the missions flown by the rocket, various specs including "NAR" engine classification, along with a dimensioned drawing, color layouts & paint pattern, and a black & white photograph. The vehicles include are the Aerobee 150A, Aerobee 300, Aerobee Hi, Arcas, Asp, Astrobee 1500, Astrobee D, Atlas Centaur, Atlas-Agena, Atlas-Score, Baby WAC, D-Region Tomahawk, Deacon Rockoon, Delta B, Delta E, Gemini-Titan II, Iris, Javelin, Juno 1, Juno 2, Little Joe 1, Little Joe 2, Mercury-Atlas, Mercury-Redstone, Nike-Apache, Nike-Asp, Nike-Cajun, Nike-Deacon, Nike-Tomahawk, RAM B, Saturn 1 Block 1, Saturn 1 Block 2, Saturn 1B, Saturn 5, Scout, Standard Aerobee, Terrapin, Thor-Able, Titan III C, Titan III E, Trailblazer 1, V-2, Vanguard, Viking Model 1, Viking Model 2, and Wac Corporal. [From: nickw@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Dr. Nick Watkins) rjungcla@ihlpb.att.com (R. Michael Jungclas)] 26) How can I find out more about esoteric propulsion schemes (solar sails, laser launchers, fusion, antimatter, etc.)? [ This needs up-to-date references on ion drives, lightsails, etc., but it's a start ] FUSION: "A Laser Fusion Rocket for Interplanetary Propulsion", Roderick Hyde, LLNL report UCRL-88857. (Contact the Technical Information Dept. at Livermore) Fusion Pellet design: Fuel selection. Energy loss mechanisms. Pellet compression metrics. Thrust Chamber: Magnetic nozzle. Shielding. Tritium breeding. Thermal modeling. Fusion Driver (lasers, particle beams, etc): Heat rejection. Vehicle Summary: Mass estimates. Vehicle Performance: Interstellar travel required exhaust velocities at the limit of fusion's capability. Interplanetary missions are limited by power/weight ratio. Trajectory modeling. Typical mission profiles. References, including the 1978 report in JBIS, "Project Daedalus", and several on ICF and driver technology. ANTIMATTER: "Antiproton Annihilation Propulsion", Robert Forward AFRPL TR-85-034 from the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (AFRPL/XRX, Stop 24, Edwards Air Force Base, CA 93523-5000). Technical study on making, holding, and using antimatter for near-term (30-50 years) propulsion systems. Excellent bibliography. Forward is the best-known proponent of antimatter. This also may be available as UDR-TR-85-55 from the contractor, the University of Dayton Research Institute, and DTIC AD-A160 from the Defense Technical Information Center, Defense Logistics Agency, Cameron Station, Alexandria, VA 22304-6145. And it's also available from the NTIS, with yet another number. "Advanced Space Propulsion Study, Antiproton and Beamed Power Propulsion", Robert Forward AFAL TR-87-070 from the Air Force Astronautics Laboratory, DTIC #AD-A189 218. Summarizes the previous paper, goes into detail on beamed power systems including " 1) pellet, microwave, and laser beamed power systems for intersteller transport; 2) a design for a near-relativistic laser-pushed lightsail using near-term laser technology; 3) a survey of laser thermal propulsion, tether transportation systems, antiproton annihilation propulsion, exotic applications of solar sails, and laser-pushed interstellar lightsails; 4) the status of antiproton annihilation propulsion as of 1986; and 5) the prospects for obtaining antimatter ions heavier than antiprotons." Again, there is an extensive bibliography. "Application of Antimatter - Electric Power to Interstellar Propulsion", G. D. Nordley, JBIS Interstellar Studies issue of 6/90. NUCLEAR ROCKETS (FISSION) "Technical Notes on Nuclear Rockets", by Bruce W. Knight and Donald Kingsbury, unpublished. May be available from: Donald Kingsbury, Math Dept., McGill University, PO Box 6070, Station A, Montreal, Quebec M3C 3G1 Canada. BUSSARD RAMJETS AND RELATED METHODS G. L. Matloff and A. J. Fennelly, "Interstellar Applications and Limitations of Several Electrostatic/Electromagnetic Ion Collection Techniques", JBIS 30 (1977):213-222 N. H. Langston, "The Erosion of Interstellar Drag Screens", JBIS 26 (1973): 481-484 C. Powell, "Flight Dynamics of the Ram-Augmented Interstellar Rocket", JBIS 28 (1975):553-562 A. R. Martin, "The Effects of Drag on Relativistic Spacefight", JBIS 25 (1972):643-652 MASS DRIVERS (COILGUNS, RAILGUNS) IEEE Transactions on Magnetics (for example, v. 27 no. 1, January 1991 issue). Every so often they publish the proceedings of the Symposium on Electromagnetic Launcher Technology, including hundreds of papers on the subject. It's a good look at the state of the art, though perhaps not a good tutorial for beginners. Anybody know some good review papers? SOLAR SAILS Starsailing. Solar Sails and Interstellar Travel. Louis Friedman, Wiley, New York, 1988, 146 pp., paper $9.95. (Not very technical, but an adequate overview.) TETHERS _Tethers and Asteroids for Artificial Gravity Assist in the Solar System,_ by P.A. Penzo and H.L. Mayer., _Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets_ for Jan-Feb 1986. Details how a spacecraft with a kevlar tether of the same mass can change its velocity by up to slightly less than 1 km/sec. if it is travelling under that velocity wrt a suitable asteroid. GENERAL "Alternate Propulsion Energy Sources", Robert Forward AFPRL TR-83-067. Keywords: Propulsion energy, metastable helium, free-radical hydrogen, solar pumped (sic) plasmas, antiproton annihiliation, ionospheric lasers, solar sails, perforated sails, microwave sails, quantum fluctuations, antimatter rockets... It's a wide, if not deep, look at exotic energy sources which might be useful for space propulsion. It also considers various kinds of laser propulsion, metallic hydrogen, tethers, and unconventional nuclear propulsion. The bibliographic information, pointing to the research on all this stuff, belongs on every daydreamer's shelf. Future Magic. Dr. Robert L. Forward, Avon, 1988. ISBN 0-380-89814-4. Nontechnical discussion of tethers, antimatter, gravity control, and even futher-out topics. [From: higgins@fnale.bitnet (Bill.Higgins) paul.blase@nss.fidonet.org (Paul Blase) dlbres10@pc.usl.edu (Phil Fraering) Maury.Markowitz@egsgate.fidonet.org (Maury Markowitz) Ted_Anderson@transarc.com (Ted Anderson)] 27) References for spy satellites *Deep Black*, by William Burrows; "best modern general book for spysats." 1) A Base For Debate: The US Satellite Station at Nurrungar, Des Ball, Allen and Unwin Australia, 1987 ISBN 0 04 355027 4 [ covers DSP early warning satellites] 2) Pine Gap: Australia and the US Geostationary Signals intelligence satellite program, Des Ball, Allen and Unwin Australia, 1988 ISBN 0 04 363002 5. [covers RHYOLITE/AQUACADE, CHALET/VORTEX, and MAGNUM signals intelligence satellites] 3) Guardians: Strategic Reconnaissance Satellites, Curtis Peebles, 1987, Ian Allan, ISBN 0 7110 17654 [ good on MOL, military Salyut and Soviet satellites, less so on others. Tends to believe what he's told so flaws in discussion of DSP, RHYOLITE et al..] 4) America's Secret Eyes In Space: The Keyhole Spy Satellite Program, Jeffrey Richelson, 1990, Harper and Row, ISBN 0 88730 285 8 [ in a class of its own, *the* historical reference on the KEYHOLE satellites] 5) Secret Sentries in Space, Philip J Klass, 1971. "long out of print but well worth a look" [From: nickw@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Nick Watkins) higgins@fnale.bitnet (Bill.Higgins)] Appendix A) Constants and Equations This list was originally compiled by Dale Greer. Additions would be appreciated. Numbers in parentheses are approximations that will serve for most blue-skying purposes. Numbers 7726 m/s (8000) -- Earth orbital velocity at 300 km altitude 3075 m/s (3000) -- Earth orbital velocity at 35786 km (geosync) 6378 km (6400) -- Mean radius of Earth 1738 km (1700) -- Mean radius of Moon 5.974e24 kg (6e24) -- Mass of Earth 7.348e22 kg (7e22) -- Mass of Moon 1.989e30 kg (2e30) -- Mass of Sun 3.986e14 m^3/s^2 (4e14) -- Gravitational constant times mass of Earth 4.903e12 m^3/s^2 (5e12) -- Gravitational constant times mass of Moon 1.327e20 m^3/s^2 (13e19) -- Gravitational constant times mass of Sun 384401 km ( 4e5) -- Mean Earth-Moon distance 1.496e11 m (15e10) -- Mean Earth-Sun distance (Astronomical Unit) 1 megaton (MT) TNT = about 4.2E22 ergs or the energy equivalent of 100 grams of matter. Ref: J.R Williams, "The Energy Level of Things", Air Force Special Weapons Center (ARDC), Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, 1963. Also see "The Effects of Nuclear Weapons", compiled by S. Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, published by the US Department of Defense (obtain from the GPO). Equations Where d is distance, v is velocity, a is acceleration, t is time. For constant acceleration d = d0 + vt + .5at^2 v = v0 + at v^2 = 2ad For circular Keplerian orbits, where u is gravitational constant, a is semimajor axis of orbit, P is period. v^2 = u/a P = 2pi/(Sqrt(u/a^3)) Classical rocket equation (dv = change in velocity, ve = exhaust velocity, x = reaction mass, m1 = rocket mass excluding reaction mass): dv = ve * ln((m1 + x) / m1) Miscellaneous f=ma -- Force is mass times acceleration w=fd -- Work (energy) is force times distance Atmospheric density varies as exp(-mgz/kT) where z is altitude, m is molecular weight in kg of air, g is acceleration of gravity, T is temperature, k is Bolztmann's constant. Up to 100 km, d = d0*exp(-z*1.42e-4) where d is density, d0 is density at 0km, is approximately true, so d@12km (40000 ft) = d0*.18 d@9 km (30000 ft) = d0*.27 d@6 km (20000 ft) = d0*.43 d@3 km (10000 ft) = d0*.65 CONSTANTS 6.62618e-34 J-s (7e-34) -- Plank's Constant "h" 1.054589e-34 J-s (1e-34) -- Plank's Constant / (2 * PI), "h bar" 1.3807e-23 J/K (1.4e-23) - Boltzmann's Constant "k" 5.6697e-8 W/m^2/K (6e-8) -- Stephan-Boltzman Constant "sigma" 6.673e-11 N m^2/kg^2 (7e-11) -- Newton's Gravitational Constant "G" 0.0029 m K (3e-3) -- Wien's Constant "sigma(W)" 3.827e26 W (4e26) -- Luminosity of Sun 1370 W / m^2 (1400) -- Solar Constant (intensity at 1 AU) 6.96e8 m (7e8) -- radius of Sun 1738 km (2e3) -- radius of Moon 299792458 m/s (3e8) -- speed of light in vacuum "c" 9.46053e15 m (1e16) -- light year 206264.806 AU (2e5) -- \ 3.2616 light years (3) -- --> parsec 3.0856e16 m (3e16) -- / Black Hole radius (also called Schwarzschild Radius): 2GM/c^2, where G is Newton's Grav Constant, M is mass of BH, c is speed of light Things to add (somebody look them up!) Basic rocketry numbers & equations Aerodynamical stuff Energy to put a pound into orbit or accelerate to interstellar velocities. Plane change delta-vee formula? Non-circular cases? WSH] Atmosphere scale height for various planets. [From greer%utd201.dnet%utadnx@utspan.span.nasa.gov (Dale M. Greer), wayne@csri.utoronto.ca (Wayne Hayes), and others] Appendix B) How to become an astronaut Q. How do I become an astronaut? A. We will assume you mean a NASA astronaut, since it's probably impossible for a Westerner to get into the Soviet program, and the other nations have so few astronauts (and fly even fewer) that you're better off hoping to win a lottery. Becoming a shuttle pilot requires lots of fast-jet experience, which means a military flying career; forget that unless you want to do it anyway. So you want to become a shuttle "mission specialist". If you aren't a US citizen, become one; that is a must. After that, the crucial thing to remember is that the demand for such jobs vastly exceeds the supply. NASA's problem is not finding qualified people, but thinning the lineup down to manageable length. It is not enough to be qualified; you must avoid being *dis*qualified for any reason, many of them in principle quite irrelevant to the job. Get a Ph.D. Specialize in something that involves getting your hands dirty with equipment, not just paper and pencil. Forget computer programming entirely; it will be done from the ground for the fore- seeable future. Degree(s) in one field plus work experience in another seems to be a frequent winner. Be in good physical condition, with good eyesight. (DO NOT get a radial keratomy or similar hack to improve your vision; nobody knows what sudden pressure changes would do to RKed eyes, and long-term effects are poorly understood. For that matter, avoid any other significant medical unknowns.) If you can pass a jet-pilot physical, you should be okay; if you can't, your chances are poor. Practise public speaking, and be conservative and conformist in appearance and actions; you've got a tough selling job ahead, trying to convince a cautious, conservative selection committee that you are better than hundreds of other applicants. (And, also, that you will be a credit to NASA after you are hired: public relations is a significant part of the job, and NASA's image is very prim and proper.) The image you want is squeaky-clean workaholic yuppie. Remember also that you will need a security clearance at some point, and Security considers everybody guilty until proven innocent. Keep your nose clean. Get a pilot's license and make flying your number one hobby; experienced pilots are known to be favored even for non-pilot jobs. Work for NASA; of 45 astronauts selected between 1984 and 1988, 43 were military or NASA employees, and the remaining two were a NASA consultant and Mae Jemison (the first black female astronaut). If you apply from outside NASA and miss, but they offer you a job at NASA, ***TAKE IT***; sometimes in the past this has meant "you do look interesting but we want to know you a bit better first". Think space: they want highly motivated people, so lose no chance to demonstrate motivation. Keep trying. Many astronauts didn't make it the first time. [From henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer)] Appendix C) Questions yet to be answered Feel free to take a crack at these. * How do I receive/interpret weather satellite images? * Brief descriptions and contact info for small space companies: AMROC/SSIA/OSC/Pacific American/3rd Millenium/OTRAG/? * Tell me about: Spy satellites GPS AMSATs Propulsion: Laser launchers Ion/electric propulsion Solar Sails Mass drivers/railguns Fate of the Voyager spacecraft * Where is the best place to watch a Shuttle launch from? * Where can I get software to simulate the entire Solar System? -- Jon Leech (leech@cs.unc.edu) __@/ Brice: "How many people don't know anything about it?" Andy: "About what?" ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V13 #220 *******************